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Conservatives need to learn to work outside their comfort zones

I always enjoy when Mr. Earle responds to my letters because he inevitably reinforces points that I'm trying to make, while at the same time ignoring issues that I may raise. He once again responds with his filtered version of what he thinks I said and a manufactured version of what he says I wrote. But, as always he never responds to issues that are raised. If Earle had been able to see beyond his hatred, he would realize that I was addressing the direction of the conservative agenda and not the real or imagined "scandals" of the Obama administration. He may cast sticks and stones but his tired old attacks do nothing to advance the conservative cause.

I believe the core principles that all Americans are likely to agree upon are individual freedom, self-determination, personal responsibility, and the preservation of our great nation. These are principles that will remain fresh at all times, as they are fundamentally grounded.

Conservatives need to respond to today's growing public anxiety over middle-class wage stagnation and growing income inequality, and not just produce redundant policies that are plainly intended more for looks than as real solutions. This will require conservatives to work outside their comfort zones. Their whole philosophy seems to be built on the idea that only their perspective is true and right, and all else are lies from the pit of hell. They are conceived by the electorate as insulating themselves in a cloak of impenetrable propaganda, which reinforces their superiority (the "real Americans") and their righteousness.

As a nation we are not going to make any progress on our biggest problems without a compromise between the center-right and the center-left. But for this to happen, we need the center-right conservatives, not the radical right to be running the G.O.P.

A divided Republican Party cannot win a major election. It's not that Democrats achieve more, or even less than what they promised, it's simply that the Republicans are set to achieve even less. The divisions within the party are holding it back. A Republican Party capable of standing on a conservative fiscal platform without alienating socially progressive voters would handily win over independents, moderates, and a large portion of the American electorate from the Democrats. Republicans in 2016 need a candidate to unite the party on the issues, both foreign and domestic, rather than polarizing it.

While maligning the president must make him feel good, Earle can spare us the dramatic recitation of his scripted outrage about a "divisive president." Republicans have divided the nation into what they perceive are "makers" and "government dependent takers." Does anyone recall them writing off "47 percent" of the American public in 2012? What will the percentage be in 2016? And as far as the Middle East is concerned, apparently Earle has forgotten which administration jumped in with both feet — where are those weapons of mass destruction?

Rather than the frenzied finger pointing, Earle and friends would better serve the conservative cause by promoting an environment dedicated to quality principled candidates that can advance conservative policies and their agenda.